Worldwide journey is nothing new in an age of comparatively reasonably priced air journey, however think about journeying all the best way from Europe to China on horseback.
It’s a actuality for Xu Zhixian, 32, from Heze in Shandong province, japanese China, who started his intercontinental journey earlier this 12 months and which he paperwork in common video posts to the delight of his social media followers.
Beginning at Lalin in Spain on February 20, Xu has already reached the Netherlands, a journey of greater than 2,500 kilometres up to now.
“I advised my household I wished to experience on horseback to China, however they didn’t imagine me till I purchased a horse and began my journey,” Xu advised Ziniu Information.
Xu spent 13 years finding out and dealing in Italy and Norway, and stated he has visited nearly each nation in Europe. He stated the concept of using a horse to China simply “popped up” in his head for no obvious cause whereas he was travelling.
“When somebody requested me why, I stated there was no cause,” Xu stated. “I simply do it as a result of I wish to.”
Xu, who had beforehand solely ridden a horse as soon as, spent three months being taught experience by a horse vendor earlier than his journey began. By the tip of the three months, the 2 had turn out to be “good buddies”, and the vendor recommended he take an eight-year-old purebred Arabian white male horse that Xu named Huihui.
Xu’s gradual intercontinental journey on horseback then started, travelling a mean of simply 30 kilometres a day.
To economize on lodging he purchased a sleeping bag, inflatable mattress and a tent for sleeping in at night time. Xu stated he spent lower than 600 euros (US$600) a month, together with the price of caring for his horse.
“If I went mountaineering on my own, it will take me six hours to complete 30 kilometres a day,” Xu stated. “It takes between 10 and 12 hours on the horse as a result of he retains consuming on the best way.”
![‘He tries to elope with another horse almost every day,” says Xu of the mischievous Huihui. Photo: Weibo](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2022/08/26/edd44015-c21b-4df1-a26d-0f29296b9dcb_3348fdfb.jpg)
One other situation for Xu whereas travelling with a horse in Europe is that Huihui might be seduced by one other horse and “elope”, he claims.
“He tries to elope with one other horse nearly every single day,” Xu defined. “He’s normally reluctant to maneuver, however each time he meets one other horse, I can’t cease him from working to them, regardless of how arduous I pull the reins.”
Huihui additionally has a naughty steak — he as soon as scattered Xu’s baggage everywhere in the floor whereas chasing after one other horse, and broke a laptop computer he was carrying.
![Xu says he is in no hurry to complete the trip and plans to keep travelling at the leisurely pace of 30 kilometres a day he has been averaging so far. Photo: Weibo](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2022/08/26/ff6f8679-3f69-4ec7-a6f9-47aa4a894740_3eabe748.jpg)
Reflecting on the previous six months of the journey, Xu stated: “Accidents and new conditions occur every single day”.
The subsequent part of the journey is to go to Germany after which Austria. Xu stated he initially had meant to finish the journey in a 12 months. However, as a result of so many uncontrollable issues have occurred on the journey, he now not dares to make estimates.
Nonetheless, Xu stated he isn’t in a rush and plans to maintain travelling on the leisurely tempo of 30 kilometres a day.